Operation Launched to Rescue Illegally Operating Zama Zama Miners

A rescue mission for illegal gold miners trapped in deep underground shafts in South Africa’s North West province began on Monday, bringing an end to months of uncertainty regarding their plight.

Civil rights organizations have reported that at least 100 people have died from starvation since October when authorities restricted access to shafts at the Buffelsfontein gold mine in Stilfontein, situated about 156 kilometers southwest of Johannesburg, aiming to compel miners to surface by denying them food.

Read: The violent underworld of Stilfontein’s zama zamas

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The government initially took a hardline stance, declaring it would not support individuals involved in illegal activities. Meanwhile, police were inactive as community members near the mine employed a makeshift rope-pulley system to hoist people up from 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) deep. Some who surfaced were arrested but later released.

The precise number of individuals still trapped underground remains unclear, with estimates indicating that at least 1,000 are still isolated from the outside.

“They have risked the lives of our brothers,” said Zinzi Tom, whose brother is among those trapped underground and who led a legal action to urge the government to initiate a rescue operation, speaking outside the mine on Monday.

“We have knocked on many doors asking and pleading with the government for help, and the response was that they would smoke them out. They didn’t care whether these people came out alive or not.”

A legal agreement was established last week, committing the government to bolster the rescue efforts. The Department of Mineral Resources, in collaboration with the Minerals Council, an industry body, has come together to help fund the operation, which is expected to cost around R12 million.

On Monday, heavy machinery and at least eight forensic pathology vans were seen entering the mine site.

Read: Stilfontein’s dangerous and desperate illegal mining industry

The department mentioned that discussions started in December with the mine owners, who have a legal obligation to finance the rescue operation but claimed inability to do so financially.

This issue of illegal mining is not unique to Stilfontein; nationwide, there are approximately 6,000 abandoned mines, many of which have been occupied by informal miners locally known as zama zamas.

According to the government, South Africa and its mining sector lose around R70 billion each year due to illegal gold mining activities.

© 2025 Bloomberg

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